Just as cities are hubs for innovations and investments that expand opportunities, they are also living laboratories forced to confront challenges of increasing complexity. What, and who, makes a city resilient—and not just livable in the short-term—has become an increasingly critical question, one we set out to answer in late 2012 with our partners at Arup through the creation of a City Resilience Index.
The OECD Regional Sustainable Development Division is working on a project on Resilient Cities. This is the overview by Setsuko Saya, Head of Regional Sustainable Development, OECD.
www.oecd.org/regional/regional-policy/
Presentation on Resilient Cities made at the ICLEI conference on Resilient Cities 2015 held in Bonn, Germany, by Tadashi Matsumoto, Regional Development Policy Division, OECD.
www.oecd.org/gov/regional-policy/
Craig Applegath of Cohos Evamy presents on the need for resilient cities in the face of increasingly volatile social and environmental changes.
Presented at the 5th annual Green Building Festival in Toronto, Canada, 2009.
Aspects of Urban resilience.
Presented as part of the Nature Addicts workshop, in the context of Eleusis Cultural Capital of Europe 2021 in Eleusis May 23, 2017
Shocks and stresses are growing in frequency, impact and scale, with the ability to ripple across systems
and geographies. But cities are largely unprepared to respond, withstand, and rebound when disaster
strikes. The greatest burden of these increasing shocks, such as the impacts of climate change or public
health threats, often falls on poor and vulnerable people who have limited resources to cope with disaster
and who take longer to recover from it, disrupting livelihoods and increasing inequality.
The OECD Regional Sustainable Development Division is working on a project on Resilient Cities. This is the overview by Setsuko Saya, Head of Regional Sustainable Development, OECD.
www.oecd.org/regional/regional-policy/
Presentation on Resilient Cities made at the ICLEI conference on Resilient Cities 2015 held in Bonn, Germany, by Tadashi Matsumoto, Regional Development Policy Division, OECD.
www.oecd.org/gov/regional-policy/
Craig Applegath of Cohos Evamy presents on the need for resilient cities in the face of increasingly volatile social and environmental changes.
Presented at the 5th annual Green Building Festival in Toronto, Canada, 2009.
Aspects of Urban resilience.
Presented as part of the Nature Addicts workshop, in the context of Eleusis Cultural Capital of Europe 2021 in Eleusis May 23, 2017
Shocks and stresses are growing in frequency, impact and scale, with the ability to ripple across systems
and geographies. But cities are largely unprepared to respond, withstand, and rebound when disaster
strikes. The greatest burden of these increasing shocks, such as the impacts of climate change or public
health threats, often falls on poor and vulnerable people who have limited resources to cope with disaster
and who take longer to recover from it, disrupting livelihoods and increasing inequality.
Brief Introduction to Strategic PlanningRoberto Rocco
This is a quite long presentation on strategic planning. It is composed by two main parts: recent shifts in the understanding of urban planning and design + basic elements of strategic planning. This presentation can be seen without a presenter (hence the text).
Urban populations are facing increasing challenges from numerous natural and manmade pressures such as rapid urbanisation, climate change, terrorism and increased risks from natural hazards. Cities must learn to adapt and thrive in the face of these diverse challenges - they must learn how to build resilience in an uncertain world. Armed with this knowledge and understanding, governments, donors, investors, policy makers, and the private sector will be able to develop effective strategies to foster more resilient cities.
Supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the City Resilience Index (CRI) is being developed by Arup. It builds on extensive research undertaken by Arup to establish an accessible, evidence-based definition of urban resilience, which culminated in the publication of the City Resilience Framework (CRF) in April 2014 (www.arup.com/cri). This provides a holistic articulation of city resilience, structured around four dimensions and 12 goals that are critical for the resilience of our cities. This structure also forms the foundations of the CRI.
Who is the CRI for?
The CRI will measure relative performance over time rather than comparison between cities. It will not deliver an overall single score for comparing performance between cities, neither will it provide a world ranking of the most resilient cities. However, it will provide a common basis of measurement and assessment to better facilitate dialogue and knowledge-sharing between cities.
It is envisaged that the CRI will primarily be used by city governments who are in the best position to gather administrative data, but it can also be used by other interested organisations and individuals (for example, universities, non-governmental organisations, community groups). It is intended that the CRI process will also provide the means for cities to capture the views of the poor and vulnerable groups as they normally suffer more severely the impacts of disruptions and failures.
Urban Planning: Settlement size, pattern and structure as a function of socio...Ashutosh Mishra
WHAT IS SETTLEMENT ??
A settlement is a place where people live.
A settlement could be anything from an isolated farmhouse to a mega city (settlement with over 10 million people).
Settlements can either be temporary or permanent.
Temporary settlements include things such as refugee camps.
Some temporary settlements have become permanent over time, (the largest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
The reason why a settlement developed in the first place is said to be its function.
Urban sustainability is the idea that a city can be organised without excessive reliance on the surrounding countryside and be able to power itself with renewable sources of energy.
Strategies for Promoting Urban SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation looks at the options of making urban areas more liveable, productive and sustainable. It includes the reduction of energy consumption through green buildings and green transport
As part of an effort to reinvigorate the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) at the global level, UNICEF has launched a new CFCI website and the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities and Communities Handbook. Building on over 20 years of the Child Friendly Cities experience, the website and Handbook underline the importance of respecting and realizing children’s rights in the development of cities and communities.
With more than half of the world’s children living in cities, now more than ever, is the time to call on local leaders and the stakeholders they work with to take action for children, especially the most vulnerable.
The City Resilience Framework is a unique framework developed by Arup with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, based on extensive research in cities. It provides a lens to understand the complexity of cities and the drivers that contribute to their resilience. Looking at these drivers can help cities to assess the extent of their resilience, to identify critical areas of weakness, and to identify actions and programs to improve the city’s resilience.
Resilient Transportation Systems OKAPA October 2014Cynthia Hoyle
Transportation systems should be designed to accommodate variable and unexpected conditions without catastrophic failure. The uni-modal transportation system currently in place in most American cities cannot effectively accommodate natural or man-made disasters.
Brief Introduction to Strategic PlanningRoberto Rocco
This is a quite long presentation on strategic planning. It is composed by two main parts: recent shifts in the understanding of urban planning and design + basic elements of strategic planning. This presentation can be seen without a presenter (hence the text).
Urban populations are facing increasing challenges from numerous natural and manmade pressures such as rapid urbanisation, climate change, terrorism and increased risks from natural hazards. Cities must learn to adapt and thrive in the face of these diverse challenges - they must learn how to build resilience in an uncertain world. Armed with this knowledge and understanding, governments, donors, investors, policy makers, and the private sector will be able to develop effective strategies to foster more resilient cities.
Supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the City Resilience Index (CRI) is being developed by Arup. It builds on extensive research undertaken by Arup to establish an accessible, evidence-based definition of urban resilience, which culminated in the publication of the City Resilience Framework (CRF) in April 2014 (www.arup.com/cri). This provides a holistic articulation of city resilience, structured around four dimensions and 12 goals that are critical for the resilience of our cities. This structure also forms the foundations of the CRI.
Who is the CRI for?
The CRI will measure relative performance over time rather than comparison between cities. It will not deliver an overall single score for comparing performance between cities, neither will it provide a world ranking of the most resilient cities. However, it will provide a common basis of measurement and assessment to better facilitate dialogue and knowledge-sharing between cities.
It is envisaged that the CRI will primarily be used by city governments who are in the best position to gather administrative data, but it can also be used by other interested organisations and individuals (for example, universities, non-governmental organisations, community groups). It is intended that the CRI process will also provide the means for cities to capture the views of the poor and vulnerable groups as they normally suffer more severely the impacts of disruptions and failures.
Urban Planning: Settlement size, pattern and structure as a function of socio...Ashutosh Mishra
WHAT IS SETTLEMENT ??
A settlement is a place where people live.
A settlement could be anything from an isolated farmhouse to a mega city (settlement with over 10 million people).
Settlements can either be temporary or permanent.
Temporary settlements include things such as refugee camps.
Some temporary settlements have become permanent over time, (the largest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
The reason why a settlement developed in the first place is said to be its function.
Urban sustainability is the idea that a city can be organised without excessive reliance on the surrounding countryside and be able to power itself with renewable sources of energy.
Strategies for Promoting Urban SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation looks at the options of making urban areas more liveable, productive and sustainable. It includes the reduction of energy consumption through green buildings and green transport
As part of an effort to reinvigorate the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) at the global level, UNICEF has launched a new CFCI website and the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities and Communities Handbook. Building on over 20 years of the Child Friendly Cities experience, the website and Handbook underline the importance of respecting and realizing children’s rights in the development of cities and communities.
With more than half of the world’s children living in cities, now more than ever, is the time to call on local leaders and the stakeholders they work with to take action for children, especially the most vulnerable.
The City Resilience Framework is a unique framework developed by Arup with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, based on extensive research in cities. It provides a lens to understand the complexity of cities and the drivers that contribute to their resilience. Looking at these drivers can help cities to assess the extent of their resilience, to identify critical areas of weakness, and to identify actions and programs to improve the city’s resilience.
Resilient Transportation Systems OKAPA October 2014Cynthia Hoyle
Transportation systems should be designed to accommodate variable and unexpected conditions without catastrophic failure. The uni-modal transportation system currently in place in most American cities cannot effectively accommodate natural or man-made disasters.
Systems-Based Approach to Support Sustainable and Gary Foley, PhD Senior Advisor, Montira Pongsiri, PhD, MPH Environmental Health Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Finance for #SDGs High Level Meeting – #financeforSDGs – Bellagio – 26 February 2015
The City Resilience Index, developed by Arup with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, provides a comprehensive, technically robust, globally applicable basis for measuring city resilience. It is comprised of 52 indicators, which are assessed based on responses to 156 questions; through a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. The responses are aggregated and presented in relation to the 12 goals (or indices) in the Framework.
The Index has been piloted in 5 cities: Shimla, India, Concepcion, Chile, Arusha, Tanzania, Hong Kong, China and Liverpool, UK. We are encouraging policy makers and other city stakeholders to use the interactive on-line assessment tool at www.cityresilienceindex.org and begin this vital analysis.
Cities are fonts of ideas, opportunity, art and political movements. But urban enclaves can also generate inequality, epidemics and pollution. The rapid pace of urbanization in the coming decades brings these and other unprecedented opportunities and challenges to the fore. Will cities lose their vibrant potential if the challenges they face spiral out of control?
Cities around the world are facing challenges brought about by rapid increases in population and geographic spread, which places greater pressure on infrastructure and services. Climate change impacts, including rising sea level, more frequent and severe storms, coastal erosion and declining freshwater sources will likely exacerbate these urban issues, in particular in poor and vulnerable communities that lack adequate infrastructure and services.
Globally, the impacts of climate change on urban areas have received less attention than on rural areas where poverty levels are higher and populations depend directly on climate-sensitive livelihoods. However, more than 50% of the world’s population currently lives in cities. By 2050, this figure is expected to increase to 70%, or 6.4 billion people, and Asian cities are likely to account for more than 60% of this increase. Urban areas are the economic powerhouses that support both the aspirations of the poor and most national economies. Furthermore, urban residents and the economic activity they generate depend on systems that are fragile and often subject to failure under the combination of climate and development pressures. If urban systems fail, the potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change on urban residents in general, on poor and vulnerable populations, and on the wider economy is massive. As a result, work on urban climate resilience is of critical importance in overall global initiatives to address the impacts of climate change.
The Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) works at the intersection of climate change, urban systems and social vulnerability to consider both direct and indirect impacts of climate change in urban areas.
Urban Climate Change Resilience in Action: Lessons from Projects in 10 ACCCRN...The Rockefeller Foundation
This paper presents key insights emerging from an analysis of the 36 intervention projects,totaling approximately $15.5 million, which have been funded and are beingimplemented under the Rockefeller Foundation Asian Cities Climate Change ResilienceNetwork (ACCCRN) in ten initial cities1. As a pioneering effort to advance on-the-groundactions aimed at building urban climate change resilience (UCCR), this portfolio ofprojects2 provides a ‘first generation’ view of how a set of cities have interpreted UCCRchallenges and translated their understanding into targeted priorities and actions. Oneof the intentions of the ACCCRN initiative was to advance the still young field of UCCRwith practical actions that substantiate the growing number of theoretical frameworks.
Thrilled to release our five-year report from 2018 to 2023. This report captures our journey in fostering sustainable development, showcasing the impact of our initiatives and the collaborations that have driven positive change globally.
Throughout these five years, the Local Pathways Fellowship has been at the forefront of nurturing emerging leaders passionate about effecting positive change in their communities. The report provides an in-depth overview of the diverse initiatives undertaken, highlighting the multifaceted impact across various spheres of sustainable development.
From empowering local communities to advocating for environmental stewardship, the report delves into the myriad ways our fellows have spearheaded initiatives, fostering innovation and resilience. Their dedication and ingenuity have led to tangible outcomes, influencing policies, driving awareness, and creating lasting change on a local and global scale.
The report also serves as a narrative of collaboration, showcasing partnerships forged with organizations, governmental bodies, and grassroots movements. These collaborations have amplified the impact of our programs, enabling us to reach new horizons and broaden the scope of our endeavours.
Moreover, the report sheds light on the milestones achieved, lessons learned, and the roadmap ahead. It encapsulates the collective efforts, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped the journey of the Local Pathways Fellowship over these transformative years.
We are very pleased to share the full report from our Future of Cities project – now available as PDF on SlideShare and as digital print via Amazon.
As previously shared in PPT format (https://www.slideshare.net/futureagenda2/future-of-cities-2017-summary), this is the detailed synthesis of insights gained from multiple discussions around the world. It brings together views on how cities are changing from a wide range of experts from 12 workshops undertaken over the past 2 years in Beirut, Christchurch, Delhi, Dubai, Guayaquil, Mumbai, Singapore, London, Toronto and Vienna.
Cities are where most of us choose to live, work and interact with others. As a result they are where innovation happens, where most ideas form and from which economic growth largely stems. They are also where significant problems can first emerge and where challenges are magnified.
This report explores some of the common challenges found in urban areas such as managing migration, countering inequality and sustainable scaling; highlights shared ambitions of having healthier, accessible and more intelligent cities; and also details some of the emerging concerns around creating cities that are safe, resilient and open to broader collaboration.
As a compilation of thoughts and ideas from a host of experts we would foremost like to thank all of the many workshop participants for their input. Without your views we would not be able to curate this synthesis. In addition we would also like to thank others who have added in extra content, shared reports and reviewed the core document. We hope that this reflects all your varied perspectives.
Going forward, we also hope that this will be of use to those leading cities, designing new districts, developing policy and exploring opportunities for urban innovation. We know that several cities are already using the insights as stimulus for challenging strategy and stimulating innovation. In addition, linking into to another Growth Agenda driven project looking at the Worlds Most Innovative Cities (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/innovation-hot-spots-countries-vs-cities-tim-jones), this is also being used as part of events designed to help future leaders identify how and where they can make most impact.
As with all Future Agenda open foresight projects the output is shared under Creative Commons (Non Commercial) and so we trust that you may find it useful. This PDF on slideshare can be freely downloaded and shared. If you want to print out the report, the easiest way is to order a digital hardcopy via Amazon (for which they unfortunately charge a fee) but this is a quick and high quality print.
All living things are made up of carbon, which makes it pretty darn
important!
In the carbon cycle, make sure you take note of 4 major processes
i. photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition
ii. Erosion and volcanic activity
iii. Burial and Decomposition of
dead organisms and their
conversion into coal and petroleum
iv. Human activities such as mining,
cutting and burning forests, and
burning fossil fuels, releasing
carbon into the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide.
Cities around the world are facing challenges brought about by rapid increases in population and geographic spread, which places greater pressure on infrastructure and services. Climate change impacts, including rising sea level, more frequent and severe storms, coastal erosion and declining freshwater sources will likely exacerbate these urban issues, in particular in poor and vulnerable communities that lack adequate infrastructure and services.
Globally, the impacts of climate change on urban areas have received less attention than on rural areas where poverty levels are higher and populations depend directly on climate-sensitive livelihoods. However, more than 50% of the world’s population currently lives in cities. By 2050, this figure is expected to increase to 70%, or 6.4 billion people, and Asian cities are likely to account for more than 60% of this increase. Urban areas are the economic powerhouses that support both the aspirations of the poor and most national economies. Furthermore, urban residents and the economic activity they generate depend on systems that are fragile and often subject to failure under the combination of climate and development pressures. If urban systems fail, the potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change on urban residents in general, on poor and vulnerable populations, and on the wider economy is massive. As a result, work on urban climate resilience is of critical importance in overall global initiatives to address the impacts of climate change.
The Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) works at the intersection of climate change, urban systems and social vulnerability to consider both direct and indirect impacts of climate change in urban areas.
In December 2016, The Rockefeller Foundation’s African Regional Office hosted the Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Convening in Nairobi, Kenya. Over 150 delegates and 40 speakers participated, sharing insights, examples, and engaging in debate and discussion on why and how ‘resilience’ can enhance Africa’s ongoing development.
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland
This document is a rollup of over a year's worth of listening and interpreting the voices of the many New Yorkers who woke up suddenly one late fall morning to a new normal: awareness of the imminent threats of climate change to our city and the northeastern seaboard of the United States, through rising seas and the increasing severity of weather patterns.
A new millennium brought a whole set of new challenges, with extraordinary tests to our physical, emotional, and financial capacity to function and succeed. We know from our history the critical role civil society plays in city building, ensuring the broadest public interests are reflected in public policies and development decisions that support a livable and resilient city for all New Yorkers.
Threats and stresses to our 21st century world come in all shapes and sizes, just as they have since the beginning of human existence. But what distinguishes today’s threats from those of the past is the escalating rate at which they are occurring, without mind for geography or man-made borders. Issues once identified and analyzed individually – our environment, the economy, and social challenges – are now inextricably interlinked.
Despite all we know about resilience and the large body of research and literature that has been written on the subject – too few societies, organizations, and systems get resilience right.
In our new publication, titled Rebound: Building a More Resilient World, we asked leaders from various disciplines to share their lessons of what resilience means and what it requires of us. Through the lens of their own experiences, we can begin to explore some of the ways we can help prepare for, withstand and emerge stronger from the acute shocks and chronic stresses of the 21st century.
The Transforming Health Systems (THS) initiative was one of The Rockefeller Foundation’s largest global health initiatives. Aligned with the Foundation’s mission to promote the well-being of humanity, THS aimed to improve the health status and financial resilience of poor and otherwise vulnerable populations through activities promoting improved health systems performance and the expansion of universal health coverage (UHC).
This report synthesizes findings from a five-year, multicomponent evaluation of the THS initiative. The objectives of the evaluation were to assess i) the effectiveness of the three core strategies – global advocacy, regional networks, and country-level investments – employed under THS to advance progress toward UHC in low- and middle-income countries in four focus countries, ii) the overall effectiveness and influence of the initiative, and iii) the Foundation’s legacy in the UHC arena. A key component of the evaluation was to document lessons learned from achievements and challenges to inform the development of future initiatives at the Foundation.
Overall, the evaluation found the THS initiative to be successful in its efforts to activate a global movement to accelerate progress toward UHC. The Foundation catalyzed and shaped the global UHC movement and, ultimately, influenced the inclusion of UHC in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the post-2015 agenda. It also created enduring cross-learning platforms and tools to support country progress toward the SDGs’ UHC targets. Although THS gained less traction in advancing UHC through its focus country investments, its success in making UHC a global development target and creating networks and coalitions to support UHC reform efforts in LMICs will likely have country-level impacts for years to come.
This guide is designed for program officers to use in their work related to networks, coalitions, and other relationship-based structures as part of their initiatives, program strategies, and outcomes. It offers a set of core components that make up the basics of strategizing, implementing, and sustaining inter-organizational relationships and structures. You can work through the guide from beginning to end or jump to specific issues with which you might be struggling. Every component suggests concrete “actions” or questions that a program officer can apply.
Putting “Impact” at the Center of Impact Investing: A Case Study of How Green...The Rockefeller Foundation
More than ever before, investors are looking to put their money where their values are. As a result, impact investing has burgeoned into an over $100 billion industry in just over ten years. But how do impact investors know whether their money is truly having a positive impact on people and
the planet? How can these investors better manage their results, and use material data – both positive and negative – about social and environmental performance to maximize their impact?
This case study documents the journey of one organization, Green Canopy Homes – and its financing arm, Green Canopy Capital – toward more systematically thinking about, measuring, and managing its impact. While developing the impact thesis for its resource-efficient homes, Green Canopy applied a theory of change tool, an approach common within the social sector, to systematically map the causal pathways between its strategies and intended impact. Its rationale for adopting this approach was simple: use it to maximize impact, and understand and minimize possible harm. The tool also effectively positioned Green Canopy to measure and communicate about its social and environmental performance, and to make client-centric adaptations to its business.
The case study provides an illuminating example of how investors can adapt theory of change to serve their impact management needs. By demonstrating the relevance and transferability of this tool for articulating, measuring, and managing impact, the hope is that this case study can contribute to strengthening other investors’ approaches, in turn contributing to building the evidence base for the “impact” of impact investments.
Electricity is one of the most important drivers of socio-economic development, yet up to 250 million Indians are not connected to the national grid, and the majority of rural consumers have grossly unreliable power supply. More than solar lanterns and home systems that power a few lights and fans, among the most efficient ways to provide reliable electricity in remote areas is through local mini-grids. India has several run by energy service companies and usually funded by philanthropic capital.
Most of these enterprises have not been able to scale-up their impact meaningfully because the risk of the national grid entering their markets can render their mini-grid unviable. Rather than seeing “grid versus mini-grid” as a policy choice, Beyond Off-Grid: Integrating Mini-Grids with India’s Evolving Electricity System explores ways we can encourage more of both: to have the grid operate in partnership with a network of distributed mini-grids to accelerate electrification.
What does the roadmap for this ‘interconnection’ of our energy system look like? How can we leverage both government and private investment? What are the different interconnection models and their commercial, technical and regulatory implications? Where do mini-grids go from here? This timely report – commissioned by the Asha Impact Trust in collaboration with Shakti Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation – provides a multi-layered perspective to address these questions based on extensive research, wide-ranging policymaker interactions, and our investment experience evaluating mini-grid operators.
We cannot achieve significant poverty reduction without stimulating electricity consumption, which fuels income-generating activities in the modern economy. In India, about 237 million people have little or no access to reliable electricity -- more than 90% of them live in rural areas. This severely constrains economic opportunities. Addressing this chronic problem requires going beyond simply expanding the government grid.
Mini-grids have emerged as a viable solution to complement and integrate with the national grid, and can support the government in achieving its ‘Power for All’ vision. The Rockefeller Foundation’s Smart Power for Rural Development (SPRD) initiative is the first to pursue the creation of a mini-grid sector that is robust enough to fuel commercial enterprises and drive economic development beyond just one village. Smart Power India (SPI), which leads the SPRD initiative in India, has proven that mini-grids can be swiftly deployed to deliver reliable power, and has likewise demonstrated that mini-grids can spur economic activity needed to help people lift themselves out of poverty.
This issue of Smart Power Connect, published after the hundredth village was connected to Smart Power, explores the efforts, success stories, and challenges faced in SPI’s mini-grid journey to date. With insights from government agencies, policy experts, energy service companies, investors and mini-grid customers themselves, this publication provides a glimpse into the potential of the mini-grids to transform the energy sector – and how rural communities are embracing and utilizing clean, reliable and adequate power to improve their lives.
Today, nearly 240 million Indians lack access to reliable electricity, and 90 percent of them live in rural areas. Despite the government’s ambitious plans to accelerate universal electrification by 2018, challenges remain in providing reliable and sufficient energy to the last mile. Distributed renewable energy (DRE) solutions, and in particular mini-grids, have emerged as a reliable complement to the government’s electrification programs by providing rural areas with access to reliable and high-quality electricity at a much faster pace. The growth of the DRE sector will be an important fillip to the last-mile challenge.
Smart Power India (SPI) is an organization that implements The Rockefeller Foundation’s Smart Power for Rural Development (SPRD) to build viable and commercially oriented mini-grid ecosystems in India. This report explains the Smart Power mini-grid model and explores the drivers of success. Analyzing early data from a cohort of the 106 Smart Power mini-grids operational as of 2017, SPI provides data on commercial performance as well as recommendations to further accelerate the rural mini-grid business.
Encouragingly, the report reveals that the 23 top-cohort plants have an average unit-level profit margin of approximately 30% after the first year of operations. It also highlights that villages receiving electricity from SPRD mini-grids show early signs of social and economic impact (also see Understanding the Impact of Rural Electrification.) SPI has observed that site selection, a strong focus on operations, support for demand generation and marketing optimized for rural customers, are critical to the continued improvement of mini-grid operations. Finally, the report provides recommendations to address external challenges such as the need for increased financing, stronger policy support and further technological innovation.
A successful philanthropic initiative depends not just on the strategy pursued – but also on how that strategy is implemented. Implementation considerations can vary significantly based on the shape of an initiative – starting a new organization can look very different than investing in a portfolio of existing organizations. This report looks at four “models” for implementing initiatives. These don’t represent an exhaustive set of potential models to pursue, or even the most high potential models. Rather, these are four examples of models, each of which has significant potential for impact when chosen wisely and executed well. The report outlines the considerations involved in choosing to pursue each of these models and findings on how to implement them, drawn from real-world experience.
Globally, over 1 billion people still live without electricity. Roughly 237 million of these people are in India. Smart Power for Rural Development (SPRD) is a $75 million initiative aimed at accelerating development in India’s least electrified states. Through the deployment of decentralized renewable energy mini-grids, SPRD works to accelerate the growth of rural economies, while at the same time improving the lives and livelihoods of poor and marginalized families and communities. With access to energy, individuals, households, and communities can generate economic opportunities and enhance their quality of life. Understanding the Impact of Rural Electrification has generated significant insights on how SPRD is having an impact on the lives of villagers, and what more is needed to sustain, grow, and scale these gains. We’ve learned that households and businesses are slowly but surely moving up the energy ladder; enterprises are expanding and new ones are being created as a result of energy access, and women are feeling safer and more mobile after dark. In this report, we also introduce the innovative GDP+ approach which, which quantifies and measures the social, economic and environmental gains of access to electricity in GDP terms. The initial findings here show that SPRD villages experienced an $18.50 per capita increase in GDP+.
The information in this brief is drawn from a case study of the JLN conducted by Mathematica Policy Research in consultation with the THS team and the Evaluation Office of The Rockefeller Foundation. The study, completed in 2016, was undertaken to assess the extent to which the JLN had achieved its goal of becoming a country-driven, sustainable network helping to advance progress toward universal health coverage in low- and middle-income countries.
The Joint Learning Network (JLN) is a key innovation and central part of The Rockefeller Foundation’s efforts to promote universal health coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) under its Transforming Health Systems (THS) initiative (2009-2017). Launched in 2010, the JLN is a country-led, global learning network that connects practitioners around the globe, in order to advance knowledge and learning about approaches to accelerate country progress toward UHC. The JLN currently includes 27 member countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America that engage in multilateral workshops, country learning exchanges, and virtual dialogues to share experiences and develop tools to support the design and implementation of UHC-oriented reforms. The core vehicles for shared learning and resource development under the JLN are technical initiatives, which are managed by several technical partners and organized around key levers for reaching UHC objectives.
With 62.5 million tons of food wasted in the United States each year, there is much work to be done to
bring about substantial changes in the food industry that will create a more efficient food system and
help preserve the environment. This guide describes promising opportunities to reduce food waste
in three areas—packaging, food retail, and home kitchens—and discusses a number of solutions that
could be piloted, validated, and scaled to significantly reduce food waste in America.
National Disaster Resilience Competition's Resilience Academies - Emerging In...The Rockefeller Foundation
In 2015 The Rockefeller Foundation partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to launch the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC)
Resilience Academies. Recognizing the salient need to infuse resilience thinking into HUD’s NDRC, these Academies were established to expose state and local governments to new approaches for protecting and promoting the long-term well-being and safety of their communities. A recent independent evaluation of the Academies has provided instructive insights about what works in efforts to build innovative resilience capacity.
Following its successful partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) post–Hurricane Sandy Rebuild by Design competition, The Rockefeller Foundation launched the Resilience Academies and Capacity-Building Initiative. Designed to support HUD’s National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC), the Academies and the Initiative provide eligible state, county, and municipal governments with subject-matter expertise and lessons from the Foundation’s years of on-the-ground disaster recovery programming and mitigation planning. Further, the Foundation hoped to assist these key players in moving global knowledge and resources to meet homegrown needs.
Launched in 2008, the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) Initiative aimed to catalyze attention, funding, and action for building the climate change resilience of vulnerable cities and people in Asia. Given that current estimates forecast that about 55 percent of Asia’s population will be living in urban centers by 2030, the ACCCRN Initiative is built on the premise that cities can take actions to build climate resilience – including drainage and flood management, ecosystem strengthening,
increasing awareness, and disease control – which can greatly improve the lives of poor and vulnerable people, not just in times of shock or stress, but every day.
At the time the initiative was launched, the concept of urban resilience and models for implementing it were nascent and emergent. ACCCRN proved to be an important experiment and “learning lab” for the Foundation and its grantees and partners to build capacity in cities to better understand and implement resilience solutions to the often devastating shocks and stresses of climate change. The initiative was effective in the initial 10 ACCCRN cities and, later, in an additional 40 cities.
As part of our Foundation-wide commitment to learning and accountability to our grantees, partners and stakeholders, we undertook an independent evaluation of the work of the initiative in 2014 to assess what worked well and not so well in ACCCRN. Conducted by Verulam Associates and ITAD, who also conducted a mid-term evaluation of the ACCCRN Initiative in 2011, this summative evaluation highlights successes, but also provides an important moment to reflect on the challenges we faced and on what we can do better or differently going forward.
As part of its overall mission of promoting the well-being of humanity throughout the world, The Rockefeller Foundation developed the goal of advancing inclusive economies. The framing of this goal is deliberate: the word inclusive stresses the need to overcome disadvantage while the choice of economies versus growth suggests the need to consider all dimensions of economic life. This executive summary outlines efforts to develop a framework to better understand and measure the characteristics of an inclusive economy. It includes:
• The evolution of the concept of an inclusive economy
• Key lessons learned from an analysis of indicator initiatives
related to measuring an inclusive economy
• A recommended indicator framework composed of 5 broad
characteristics, 15 sub-categories, and 57 indicators
• Implications for future work
For more details, a full report is available at:
inclusiveeconomies.org
Situating the Next Generation of Impact Measurement and Evaluation for Impact...The Rockefeller Foundation
Situating the Next Generation of Impact Measurement and Evaluation for Impact Investing contends that measurement practices need to evolve by borrowing from the strengths of both private business and social sector evaluation. Suggesting that an impact thesis is a crucial anchor for impact measurement strategies, the paper offers several measurement approaches in use today. The ‘next generation’ of impact measurement and evaluation must stem from a commitment of impact investors to strengthen evidence for their social returns alongside the evidence for financial returns.
The goal of the CEO & Gender Media Audit was to understand the media coverage of CEOs in various situations and determine if there are differences in the way male and female CEOs are covered.
Equity and Inclusive Growth from a Development Perspective is essential reading for development and evaluation practitioners. It provides a concise history and critical examination of the concepts related to growth, poverty, and equity. These three foundational elements of contemporary development theory and practice are at the root of The Rockefeller Foundation’s movement toward advancing inclusive economies and building resilience.
The paper offers many insights about the measurement and evaluation of programs. It illuminates the debate surrounding ways to assess well-being beyond GDP. It covers the many ways to approach the measurement of poverty and the most commonly used indexes. Finally, it examines the important distinction between equity and equality and the policy implications of pursuing equity.
Canadian Immigration Tracker March 2024 - Key SlidesAndrew Griffith
Highlights
Permanent Residents decrease along with percentage of TR2PR decline to 52 percent of all Permanent Residents.
March asylum claim data not issued as of May 27 (unusually late). Irregular arrivals remain very small.
Study permit applications experiencing sharp decrease as a result of announced caps over 50 percent compared to February.
Citizenship numbers remain stable.
Slide 3 has the overall numbers and change.
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
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Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Up the Ratios Bylaws - a Comprehensive Process of Our Organizationuptheratios
Up the Ratios is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap in STEM education for underprivileged students by providing free, high-quality learning opportunities in robotics and other STEM fields. Our mission is to empower the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem-solvers by offering a range of educational programs that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
At Up the Ratios, we believe that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, should have access to the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in today's technology-driven world. To achieve this, we host a variety of free classes, workshops, summer camps, and live lectures tailored to students from underserved communities. Our programs are designed to be engaging and hands-on, allowing students to explore the exciting world of robotics and STEM through practical, real-world applications.
Our free classes cover fundamental concepts in robotics, coding, and engineering, providing students with a strong foundation in these critical areas. Through our interactive workshops, students can dive deeper into specific topics, working on projects that challenge them to apply what they've learned and think creatively. Our summer camps offer an immersive experience where students can collaborate on larger projects, develop their teamwork skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.
In addition to our local programs, Up the Ratios is committed to making a global impact. We take donations of new and gently used robotics parts, which we then distribute to students and educational institutions in other countries. These donations help ensure that young learners worldwide have the resources they need to explore and excel in STEM fields. By supporting education in this way, we aim to nurture a global community of future leaders and innovators.
Our live lectures feature guest speakers from various STEM disciplines, including engineers, scientists, and industry professionals who share their knowledge and experiences with our students. These lectures provide valuable insights into potential career paths and inspire students to pursue their passions in STEM.
Up the Ratios relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue our work. Contributions of time, expertise, and financial support are crucial to sustaining our programs and expanding our reach. Whether you're an individual passionate about education, a professional in the STEM field, or a company looking to give back to the community, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.
We are proud of the positive impact we've had on the lives of countless students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in STEM. By providing these young minds with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, we are not only changing their futures but also contributing to the advancement of technology and innovation on a broader scale.
3. 1City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Foreword
In 1958, Jane Jacobs, a community activist,
received a Rockefeller Foundation grant
to expand upon her ideas about how a city
should look, feel, and work. The book she
published three years later − The Death and
Life of Great American Cities − transformed
how city dwellers, urban academics and
policy-makers think about cities and urban
planning. Jacobs challenged the prevailing
assumptions of what makes a city thrive.
Over the past five decades, the values and
ideas put forward by Jacobs and others have
been profoundly important as questions
of identity, voice, inclusion, access and
opportunity have been negotiated in the
context of dynamic urban growth and
globalisation.
This legacy of progressive urban thinking
becomes even more crucial as we look
to the future. Just as cities are hubs
for innovations and investments that
expand opportunities, they are also living
laboratories forced to confront challenges
of increasing complexity. Indeed, the role of
cities has become central in debates around
our planetary boundaries, economic futures,
social stability and climate change. What
and who makes a city resilient – and not
just liveable now or sustainable for the long
term – has become an increasingly critical
question, one we set out to answer in late
2012 with our partners at Arup through the
creation of a City Resilience Index.
The Rockefeller Foundation has been
pioneering work on climate resilience in
both rural and urban regions for more than
a decade. By 2012, the idea of resilience as
the critical lens through which to consider
not only climate change, but also disaster
risk reduction more generally, including
financial shocks, terrorism and slow-moving
chronic stresses, was gaining traction
globally. But, producing a meaningful index
for something as complex as the resilience
of a city is fraught with reputational,
conceptual and execution risk. We stumbled
again and again on major conceptual and
practical challenges.
We found potential partners ready to
jump into the metrics and indicators, but
few with the experience to work with us
to understand what does and does not
contribute to urban resilience. We risked
investing in an index that measured and
compared cities based on available data,
but did not necessarily help cities better
understand and assess their own resilience.
We found perspectives were siloed, shaped
by experience and expertise in one or
another aspect of resilience, disaster risk
reduction, infrastructure resilience, climate
change, national security or business
continuity. What Arup has been able to
bring is thought leadership and the capacity
to create a comprehensive framework that
reflects reality. A city’s resilience depends
on its physical assets as well as its policies,
social capital and institutions.
This report presents the inclusive
framework for articulating city resilience
that the Foundation was looking for, to
underpin the City Resilience Index. It has
already proven useful in the agenda-setting
workshops in cities across the globe that
are participating in the 100 Resilient Cities
Challenge. These workshops, in turn, have
helped and will continue to help shape the
framework and contribute to the final phase,
developing the indicators and variables that
will comprise the City Resilience Index.
This framework will form the basis of a tool
that should enable all of us interested in
city resilience to convene around a common
understanding of that idea, and begin to
‘baseline’ what matters most for making
cities more resilient. Both the framework
and the index are intended to facilitate a
process of engagement with and within
cities that generates dialogue and deeper
understanding. Ultimately, this will lead
to new ideas and opportunities to engage
new actors in civil society, government and
business on what makes a city resilient.
Dr. Nancy Kete
Managing Director
The Rockefeller Foundation
4. “In order to get a grip on it, one must be able to relate resilience to
other properties that one has some means of ascertaining, through
observation.”
Martin-Breen & Andries (2011) Resilience: A literature review. The Rockefeller Foundation: New York City, p. 11
2 City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
5. 3City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Understanding city resilience
Why city resilience?
As the 21st century unfolds, an increasing
majority of the world’s population will
live in cities. Human wellbeing in cities
relies on a complex web of interconnected
institutions, infrastructure and information.
People are drawn to cities as centres
of economic activity, opportunity and
innovation. But cities are also places where
stresses accumulate or sudden shocks
occur that may result in social breakdown,
physical collapse or economic deprivation.
That is, unless a city is resilient.
Cities have always faced risks, and many
cities that have existed for centuries have
demonstrated their resilience in the face
of resource shortages, natural hazards,
and conflict. In the 21st century, global
pressures that play out at a city scale − such
as climate change, disease pandemics,
economic fluctuations, and terrorism − pose
new challenges. The scale of urban risk
is increasing due to the number of people
living in cities. Risk is also increasingly
unpredictable due to the complexity of city
systems and the uncertainty associated with
many hazards – notably climate change.
Risk assessments and measures to reduce
specific foreseeable risks will continue to
play an important role in urban planning.
In addition, cities need to ensure that their
development strategies and investment
decisions enhance, rather than undermine,
the city’s resilience. If governments, donors,
investors, policy-makers, and the private
sector are to collectively support and foster
more resilient cities, there needs to be a
common understanding of what constitutes
a resilient city and how it can be achieved.
The City Resilience Framework responds to
this challenge by providing an accessible,
evidence-based articulation of city
resilience. Over the coming months, it will
be further developed to create the City
Resilience Index, which will introduce
variables that provide a robust basis for
measuring resilience at the city scale. The
primary audience for this tool is municipal
governments. But, the framework,
indicators and variables are also intended to
support dialogue between other stakeholders
who contribute to building more resilient
cities globally.
What is city resilience?
Definition | City resilience describes
the capacity of cities to function, so that
the people living and working in cities
– particularly the poor and vulnerable –
survive and thrive no matter what stresses or
shocks they encounter.
Resilience is a term that emerged from the
field of ecology in the 1970s, to describe
the capacity of a system to maintain
or recover functionality in the event of
disruption or disturbance. It is applicable
to cities because they are complex systems
that are constantly adapting to changing
circumstances. The notion of a resilient
city becomes conceptually relevant when
chronic stresses or sudden shocks threaten
widespread disruption or the collapse of
physical or social systems. The conceptual
limitation of resilience is that it does not
necessarily account for the power dynamics
that are inherent in the way cities function
and cope with disruptions.
In the context of cities, resilience has helped
to bridge the gap between disaster risk
reduction and climate change adaptation.
It moves away from traditional disaster
risk management, which is founded on risk
assessments that relate to specific hazards.
Instead, it accepts the possibility that a
wide range of disruptive events – both
stresses and shocks – may occur but are not
necessarily predictable. Resilience focuses
on enhancing the performance of a system
in the face of multiple hazards, rather than
preventing or mitigating the loss of assets
due to specific events.
“By April 2014, to articulate
urban resilience in a measurable,
evidence-based and accessible
way that can inform urban
planning, practice, and investment
patterns which better enable
urban communities (e.g. poor and
vulnerable, businesses, coastal) to
survive and thrive multiple shocks
and stresses.”
Opportunity statement (Rockefeller
Grantee Workshop, New York City,
February 2013)
(Image opposite)
Area of redevelopment in the Silo District, Cape Town.
7. Reflective
Robust
Red
undant
Fl
exible
Resourceful
Inclusive
Integrated
5City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Qualities of
resilient systems
Reflective
Reflective systems are accepting of the
inherent and ever-increasing uncertainty
and change in today’s world. They have
mechanisms to continuously evolve, and
will modify standards or norms based on
emerging evidence, rather than seeking
permanent solutions based on the status quo.
As a result, people and institutions examine
and systematically learn from their past
experiences, and leverage this learning to
inform future decision-making.
Robust
Robust systems include well-conceived,
constructed and managed physical assets,
so that they can withstand the impacts of
hazard events without significant damage or
loss of function. Robust design anticipates
potential failures in systems, making
provision to ensure failure is predictable,
safe, and not disproportionate to the cause.
Over-reliance on a single asset, cascading
failure and design thresholds that might
lead to catastrophic collapse if exceeded are
actively avoided.
Redundant
Redundancy refers to spare capacity
purposely created within systems so
that they can accommodate disruption,
extreme pressures or surges in demand. It
includes diversity: the presence of multiple
ways to achieve a given need or fulfil a
particular function. Examples include
distributed infrastructure networks and
resource reserves. Redundancies should be
intentional, cost-effective and prioritised
at a city-wide scale, and should not be an
externality of inefficient design.
Flexible
Flexibility implies that systems can change,
evolve and adapt in response to changing
circumstances. This may favour decentralised
and modular approaches to infrastructure or
ecosystem management. Flexibility can be
achieved through the introduction of new
knowledge and technologies, as needed. It
also means considering and incorporating
indigenous or traditional knowledge and
practices in new ways.
Resourceful
Resourcefulness implies that people and
institutions are able to rapidly find different
ways to achieve their goals or meet their
needs during a shock or when under stress.
This may include investing in capacity to
anticipate future conditions, set priorities,
and respond, for example, by mobilising
and coordinating wider human, financial
and physical resources. Resourcefulness
is instrumental to a city’s ability to restore
functionality of critical systems, potentially
under severely constrained conditions.
Inclusive
Inclusion emphasises the need for
broad consultation and engagement of
communities, including the most vulnerable
groups. Addressing the shocks or stresses
faced by one sector, location, or community
in isolation of others is an anathema to the
notion of resilience. An inclusive approach
contributes to a sense of shared ownership
or a joint vision to build city resilience.
Integrated
Integration and alignment between city
systems promotes consistency in decision-
making and ensures that all investments are
mutually supportive to a common outcome.
Integration is evident within and between
resilient systems, and across different scales
of their operation. Exchange of information
between systems enables them to function
collectively and respond rapidly through
shorter feedback loops throughout the city.
Cape Town
than its presence. Consultees also talked
about connecting people and enabling
flows of information, goods, and services
as a result of integrated transport and
communications infrastructure.
Two new aspects of resilience were
identified:
Leadership + coordination | Consultees
emphasised the critical importance of
leadership, in the form of a committed city
government that takes decisions on the basis
of sound evidence; engages with business,
citizens and civil society groups; and aligns
with other governing bodies at the regional
and national level.
Urban planning + strategy | Consultees
proposed that cities should have a holistic
cross-sectoral city vision, strategy or
plan underpinned by appropriate data and
delivered via policy, regulations, standards
and codes.
Every city perceived resilience-building to
be an integrated, ongoing process involving
a multitude of actions at different scales.
Across the six cities, there was a clear
distinction between those cities which had
experienced shocks, and those which had
not. Different groups within the same city
had different perspectives on, and priorities
for, what makes their city resilient. This
highlights the importance of inclusive
consultation in resilience planning.
Further research is needed to specifically
understand the factors that contribute to the
resilience of lower income groups. Our
research suggested that their concerns and
priorities were very different to those of the
government and the private sector.
Further information on our journey to understand city
resilience is captured in the research reports:
• City Resilience Index: Research Report Volume I: Desk
Study (Arup, April 2014)
• City Resilience Index: Research Report Volume II:
Fieldwork and Primary Data Analysis (Arup, April 2014)
These are available on www.arup.com/cri
9. 7City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Every city is unique. The way
resilience manifests itself plays
out differently in different places.
The City Resilience Framework
provides a lens through which
the complexity of cities and the
numerous factors that contribute
to a city’s resilience can be
understood. It comprises 12 key
goals that describe the fundamental
outcomes of a resilient city.
City Resilience Framework
A resilient city is a city where there is or
are…
1. Minimal human vulnerability
Indicated by the extent to which everyone’s
basic needs are met.
2. Diverse livelihoods and employment
Facilitated by access to finance, ability to
accrue savings, skills training, business
support and social welfare.
3. Effective safeguards to human health
and life
Relying on integrated health facilities
and services, and responsive emergency
services.
4. Collective identity and community
support
Observed as active community engagement,
strong social networks and social
integration.
5. Comprehensive security and rule of
law
Including law enforcement, crime
prevention, justice, and emergency
management.
6. Sustainable economy
Observed as sound financial management,
diverse revenue streams, the ability to
attract business investment, adequate
investment, and emergency funds.
7. Reduced exposure and fragility
Indicated by environmental stewardship;
appropriate infrastructure; effective land
use planning; and enforcement of planning
regulations.
8. Effective provision of critical services
Indicated by diverse provision and active
management; maintenance of ecosystems and
infrastructure; and contingency planning
9. Reliable communications and mobility
Indicated by diverse and affordable multi-
modal transport systems and information and
communication technology (ICT) networks;
and contingency planning.
10. Effective leadership and management
Involving government, business and civil
society, and indicated by trusted individuals;
multi-stakeholder consultation; and evidence-
based decision-making.
11. Empowered stakeholders
Indicated by education for all, and access
to up-to-date information and knowledge
to enable people and organisations to take
appropriate action.
12. Integrated development planning
Indicated by the presence of a city vision; an
integrated development strategy; and plans that
are regularly reviewed and updated by cross-
departmental working groups.
(Image across)
View of Cali, Colombia.
Structure of the
City Resilience Index
Indicators
52
Goals
12
Categories
4
Variables
156
10. 8 City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Qualities
The 12 goals are complemented by qualities
that distinguish a resilient city from one
that is simply liveable, sustainable or
prosperous. These qualities are considered
to be important in preventing breakdown or
failure; or enabling appropriate and timely
action to be taken. They can be observed
in relation to the various assets, systems,
behaviours and practices that collectively
contribute to achieving the 12 outcomes
(or goals). For example, health services
that are flexible can reallocate staff to deal
with an outbreak of disease. Protective
infrastructure that is robust will not fail
catastrophically when design thresholds are
exceeded. Energy systems with redundancy
can accommodate surges in demand or
disruption to supply networks. Planning
processes that are reflective are better placed
to respond to changing circumstances.
Families that are resourceful will have put
aside savings or invested in insurance. Early
warning systems that are inclusive will
minimise loss of life and property.
City resilience is complex. The three
layers of the City Resilience Framework
– categories, goals and qualities – each
contribute to a richer articulation of
resilience. The framework can be used
to facilitate a common understanding of
resilience amongst diverse stakeholders. It
can also be used to identify where there are
critical gaps, where action and investment
to build resilience will be most effective,
or where deeper analysis or understanding
is required. The final layer will be the
variables and metrics that result in the City
Resilience Index. This will enable cities to
carry out an objective assessment of their
resilience and measure progress against an
initial baseline.
Qualities
Goals
Categories
Goals
The relative importance of the 12 goals is
likely to depend on the urban context and
the challenges a city faces. However, our
research tells us that, generally, these factors
are what matter most when a city faces a
wide range of chronic problems or a sudden
catastrophe. They represent the backbone of
a resilient city. They are what enable people
to survive and thrive and businesses to
prosper despite adverse circumstances.
The 12 goals provide a holistic articulation
of resilience which equates to the elements
of a city’s immune system. A weakness
in one area may compromise the city’s
resilience overall, unless it is compensated
for by strength elsewhere. In Guangzhou,
China, public squares were redesigned
to encourage social interaction between
migrant workers as part of an integrated
approach to urban planning. In Surat, India,
there has been substantial investment in
health services to offset the lack of family
support and social networks among migrant
workers.
The goals are focused on performance; they
describe the outcome of actions to build
resilience, not the actions themselves. This
acknowledges that resilience results from
individual and collective action at various
levels, delivered by multiple stakeholders
ranging from households to municipal
government. In Cape Town, South Africa,
emergency response in some townships
has fallen to community groups, as the
city police force is unwilling to operate
in these areas due to concerns for their
safety. In the Philippines, the efficacy of
a community-based early warning system
in Metro Manila has been strengthened
through access to data and knowledge as a
result of a partnership between a local non-
governmental agency and the university.
Qualities
Categories
The 12 goals fall into four categories:
the health and wellbeing of individuals
(people); urban systems and services
(place); economy and society (organisation);
and, finally, leadership and strategy
(knowledge). For each, it is possible to
envisage a best case which represents
a resilient city, and a worst case which
equates to breakdown or collapse. A city
characterised by poverty, social conflict,
poor quality infrastructure and weak
governance is not resilient. This is evident
in Port au Prince, Haiti, where recovery
following the devastation caused by an
earthquake on 12 January 2010 has proven
particularly challenging.
The categories can be used to explain New
York City’s resilience, as demonstrated
following Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and,
previously, after the 9/11 terrorist attack
in 2001. This was due to the city’s relative
prosperity, but also to collective identity
and effective city leadership. These factors
meant that people were willing to help each
other and unite around the common goal of
getting the city back to normal as quickly
as possible. Emergency plans were in place
that meant that urban systems and services
were rapidly reinstated and civil order was
maintained.
Wealthier cities are not necessarily more
resilient, as demonstrated by the decline
of the US city of Detroit, which became
overly dependent on a single industry, or the
flooding which brought Bangkok, Thailand,
to a standstill in 2010, affecting supply
chains globally. Conversely, relatively poor
cities can make choices that build resilience.
Gorakhpur, India, is working to build
resilience at the ward level in response to
annual waterlogging in poorer parts of the
city. By improving solid waste management
practices to unblock drains, and increasing
drainage of waterlogged areas, the city
has reduced incidences of diseases such
as malaria and Japanese encephalitis,
which are spread by vectors that breed in
waterlogged areas.
12. 10 City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Health &
wellbeing
1. Minimal human vulnerability
This relates to the extent to which
everyone’s basic needs are met.
Minimising underlying human vulnerabilities
enables individuals and households to achieve
a standard of living which goes beyond
mere survival. A basic level of wellbeing
also allows people to deal with unforeseen
circumstances. This is only possible once
their physiological needs are met through a
basic level of provision of food, water and
sanitation, energy and shelter.
The focus of this goal is on providing an
adequate and dependable supply of essential
services to a city’s whole population.
Access to shelter and food – particularly for
vulnerable groups – as well as sufficient, safe,
and reliable citywide water, sanitation and
energy networks are key to achieving this
goal. Evidence from cities suggests that the
affordability of these services is also critical
to ensuring the whole population has daily
access, including during times of disruption.
The robustness of essential city networks
becomes particularly important in severe
environmental events. For example: electricity
power lines may be damaged by storms.
If failure occurs, resourceful city utility
companies are able to respond quickly in line
with coordinated and pre-prepared emergency
plans. Inclusive plans are also essential
to ensure that all communities receive a
minimum supply of basic assets, notably
water and food, particularly in extreme
circumstances.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Housing; Energy supply; Drinking
water; Sanitation; Food supply.
2. Diverse livelihoods and
employment
This is facilitated by access to finance,
ability to accrue savings, skills training,
business support, and social welfare.
Diverse livelihood opportunities and
support mechanisms allow citizens to
proactively respond to changing conditions
within their city without undermining their
wellbeing. Access to finance, skills training
and business support enables individuals
to pursue a range of options to secure the
critical assets necessary to meet their basic
needs. Long-term, secure livelihoods allow
people to accrue personal savings that will
support their development, as well as their
survival during times of crisis.
Mechanisms through which diverse
livelihood and employment opportunities
can be generated include training and skills
development, microfinance, incentive
and innovation programmes, as well as
a living wage. Financial resources for
business development and incentives
for innovation allow individuals to seek
diverse employment options during times of
economic constraint or change. Contingency
measures, such as insurance and social
welfare, contribute to supporting households
through challenging circumstances.
An inclusive approach to livelihoods
ensures that all citizens in a city have
unrestricted access to legitimate
occupations, regardless of race, ethnicity,
gender or sexual orientation. A range
of dynamic small, medium and large
businesses in different economic sectors
helps people to access job opportunities,
even during challenging macro-economic
circumstances. In the long term,
microfinance, savings, training, business
support and social welfare form a safety
net that enables people to be flexible during
times of stress.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Labour policies; Skills and training;
Business development and innovation;
Financing mechanisms; Protection of
livelihoods.
3. Effective safeguards to human
health and life
This relies on integrated health facilities
and services, and responsive emergency
services.
Health systems are critical to the day-to-
day prevention of illness and the spread of
disease, as well as protecting the population
during emergencies. They comprise a
diverse suite of practices and infrastructure,
which help to maintain public health and
treat chronic and acute health problems.
Health services encompass a variety of
practices, including: education; sanitation;
epidemiological surveillance; vaccination;
and provision of healthcare services. These
are focused on ensuring both physical and
mental health. Accessible and affordable
day-to-day individual healthcare, as well as
appropriate population-based interventions
(i.e. targeted at the community or city level),
are key features of a functioning city health
system.
Measures to address injuries and addiction
are also important to reduce the burden
of ill-health in urban settings. Effective,
inclusive and well-prepared medical staff
and procedures ensure that all individuals
have access to health services before, as
well as during, emergencies. Responsive
emergency services provide surge capacity
to support peak demand during a crisis.
In order to achieve the above, appropriate
health infrastructure is critical.
Learning and future planning ensure that
public health practices − such as prevention
through education − are appropriate for
the social and physical context of a given
city. Services or facilities that target
vulnerable groups ensure that preventive
and responsive strategies are inclusive
and able to reach the entire population. In
emergencies, a diverse network of medical
practitioners and facilities throughout the
city ensures the availability of additional
resources (redundancy) that can be deployed
immediately wherever they are needed.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Public health systems; Quality
healthcare; Medical care; Emergency
response.
13. 11City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Economy &
society
4. Collective identity and
community support
This is observed as active community
engagement, strong social networks and
social integration.
Communities that are active, appropriately
supported by the city government and
well-connected with one another contribute
to the bottom-up creation of a city with a
strong identity and culture. This enables
individuals, communities and the city
government to trust and support each other,
and face unforeseen circumstances together
without civil unrest or violence.
Creating cohesive cities has both social
and physical dimensions. Reinforcing
local identity and culture contributes to
positive relationships between individuals
while reinforcing their collective ability to
improve the environment where they live,
work, create and play. These relationships
are supported by a number of practices,
including social networks and community
organisations, artistic expression and the
preservation of cultural heritage, including
religion, language and traditions. Ideally,
these practices are underpinned by spatial
interventions that shape the places where
communities develop and connect.
Provision of communal facilities, public
spaces and physical accessibility can help to
strengthen community cohesion and avoid
isolation.
Inclusivity is promoted by community
participation. For example: processes that
encourage civic engagement in planning and
decision-making processes. Social practices
are reinforced by physical interventions
that foster resourcefulness and integration,
such as the provision of communal meeting
places; and the development of mixed
neighbourhoods that offer a range of
housing opportunities to different social/
income groups.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Community support; Community
cohesion; Identity and culture; Engaged
Citizens.
5. Comprehensive security and
rule of law
This includes law enforcement, crime
prevention, justice, and emergency
management.
A comprehensive and contextually
appropriate approach to law enforcement
facilitates the reduction and prevention of
crime and corruption in a city. By instituting
a transparent justice system based on ethical
principles, cities can uphold the rule of
law and promote citizenship in daily life.
These norms are critical to maintaining
order during times of stress. Well planned
and resourced law enforcement facilitates
peaceful recovery, and ensures a healthy
population by reducing crime-related injury,
fatality and stress.
An integrated approach to law enforcement
combines deterrents with effective policing,
emergency capacity, a transparent judicial
system, and measures to reduce corruption.
An effective judicial system promotes civic
education as a preventive measure, as well
as responsive action through fair justice.
Sufficiently resourced policing practices
that promote safety and security are a
feature of daily life in a resilient city, and
continue during times of unrest. Trust and
transparency are identified as key attributes
of policing, which can be achieved by
reducing corruption and by involving
other relevant actors in law enforcement,
such as community leaders. Trust in city
authorities and legal institutions is achieved
by appropriate enforcement of laws and
avoiding discrimination or violence in law
enforcement.
Laws are upheld by resourceful and
inclusive systems of policing, which
actively involve city agencies, businesses
and civil society. Social stability and
security is also facilitated by inclusive
public space design, which helps to avoid
creating places where crime may proliferate,
while maximising the safety and security of
individuals.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Systems to deter crime; Corruption
prevention; Policing; Criminal and civil
justice.
6. Sustainable economy
This is observed in sound management
of city finances, diverse revenue streams,
and the ability to attract business
investment, allocate capital, and build
emergency funds.
A robust economic system is critical to
sustaining the investment that a city needs
to maintain its infrastructure and provide
for its communities. It helps to create
contingency funds that both the private
and public sectors can use to respond to
emergencies and unforeseen events. As a
result, cities are better able to respond to
changing economic conditions and pursue
long-term prosperity.
A sustainable city economy is developed by
aligning fiscal procedures in government,
and the ability of the private sector to
function despite shocks and stresses. A
careful structuring of city budgets will
consider the availability of funds to
regularly invest in infrastructure and to
respond to emergencies. This is supported
by a robust revenue base, supplemented
by the city’s ability to attract inward
investment.
The private sector has a complementary
responsibility to develop business
continuity plans to ensure that businesses
can also function during, and recover
from, emergencies. City government can
contribute to the sustainability of private
economic activities by empowering
different sectors within the economy and
strengthening trade relationships beyond
the city.
Resourcefulness is identified as a key
quality for a healthy city economy. A
diverse economy can absorb the impacts
of sector-based shocks without major
impact on the city’s revenue streams.
Resilient cities also optimise revenues and
expenditures, and leverage funds from non-
government and business sources where
appropriate. For example: public-private
partnerships, direct investment and grant
funding.
Specific indicators that underpin this
goal include: Public finances; Business
continuity planning; Economic base;
Business environment; Integration with
regional and global economies.
14. 12 City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Infrastructure
& environment
12
7. Reduced exposure and fragility
This relies on environmental stewardship,
appropriate infrastructure, effective
land use planning and enforcement of
planning regulations.
Conservation of environmental assets
preserves the natural protection afforded
to cities by ecosystems. Among other
things, this might include the absorption of
tidal surges by coastal wetlands or fluvial
flooding by upstream woodlands. The
protective function of infrastructure relies
on appropriate design and construction. This
is as important for homes, offices and other
day-to-day infrastructure as it is for specific
defences, like flood barriers. Working
together, both natural and man-made assets
help to improve protection against severe
conditions, avoiding injury, damage or loss.
Ecosystems and built infrastructure
designed as integrated urban systems
effectively contribute to reducing physical
exposure and vulnerability. For example:
river basins, forests, drains and sewers
all play a role in protecting cities from
flooding. In coastal areas, for example,
robustness can be better achieved by using
natural wetlands and man-made dykes as
part of an integrated approach to coastal
flooding.
A resilient city values ecosystem services
and has in place robust environmental
policies to protect ecosystems in situ. In
resilient cities, man-made infrastructure
and buildings are well-conceived, well-
constructed and safeguarded against known
hazards. Building codes and standards
promote long-term robustness, flexibility
to adapt in the future and safe failure
mechanisms in the event of a shock.
Cities in seismic zones can be better
prepared for earthquakes by updating and
enforcing building codes on the basis of
reflective learning and new understanding of
future conditions.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Hazard exposure and mapping;
Codes, standards and enforcement;
Protective ecosystems; Protective
infrastructure.
8. Effective provision of critical
services
This results from diversity of provision,
redundancy, active management
and maintenance of ecosystems and
infrastructure, and contingency planning.
Ecosystems and infrastructure both provide
critical services to urban populations.
However, these services depend on more
than just the presence of assets; their quality
and performance are only maintained
through proactive management. During
times of stress, some ecosystem services
and infrastructure become central to the
city functioning. Well-maintained systems
are better able to accommodate abnormal
demand, withstand unusual pressures and
continue functioning. Well-established
management practices create enhanced
knowledge of system components, so that
infrastructure managers are better prepared to
restore disrupted services.
Educating communities and businesses is
essential to ensuring that ecosystem services
of importance to urban populations – such as
natural drainage capacity and flood defences
– remain robust and are not undermined by
careless or unwise actions, such as natural
resource extraction or destruction of coastal
dunes and mangroves. The management of
man-made infrastructure includes frequent
monitoring together with regular plans for
upgrade and renewal. Demand management
is critical in the continuity of critical services,
ensuring that neither built nor natural systems
are overloaded, and can maintain sufficient
redundancy to absorb surges in demand.
A resilient city also implements continuity
plans to ensure that infrastructure managers
are ready to maintain service provision and
avoid disruption during extreme events.
Active management of ecosystem services
and infrastructure ensures long-term
robustness and flexibility in changing
conditions. For example: through monitoring
and maintenance programmes. Reflective
approaches may use intelligent technologies
and education to monitor the integrity of
assets and disseminate alerts in the event of
declining performance.
Specific indicators that underpin this
goal include: Stewardship of ecosystems;
Infrastructure services; Spare capacity;
Maintenance; Continuity for critical assets
and services.
9. Reliable mobility and
communications
This is enabled by diverse and affordable
multi-modal transport systems and
information and communication
technology (ICT) networks, and
contingency planning.
Reliable communications and mobility
create daily connectivity between places,
people and services. This fosters a positive
environment for everyday working
and living, builds social cohesion, and
also supports rapid mass evacuation
and widespread communication during
emergencies.
A combination of transport links and
the provision of ICT are fundamental
to connectivity in contemporary cities.
Transport links enable physical mobility and
should be characterised by a wide coverage
of the city, as well as good service quality
and affordability. Good infrastructure
capacity, safety and efficiency are essential
for the effective operation of transport
networks. Business logistics and freight
infrastructure are an important consideration
to support the city’s economic functioning.
Consultations undertaken in this research
suggest that communication technologies
are also critical for a city’s connectivity.
These include a diverse range of
technologies, such as radio networks,
internet and mobile phone services, as well
as specific channels such as social media.
The availability of reliable and inclusive
forms of communication is critical to
disseminate information during emergencies
– particularly to the most vulnerable
residents of a city, such as the poor and the
elderly.
Inclusive multi-modal transport networks
allow safe and affordable travel between all
neighbourhoods and key facilities across
the city. Multi-modal systems incorporate
redundancy and flexibility by providing
alternative options in the event of failure
or surges in demand. Robust and redundant
ICT services enable safe communication
and access to information, including
coordination of emergency services.
Specific indicators that underpin this
goal include:Transport networks;
Transport operations and maintenance;
Communications technology; Technology
networks.
15. 13City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Leadership
& strategy
10. Effective leadership and
management
This relates to government, business
and civil society and is recognisable in
trusted individuals, multi-stakeholder
consultation, and evidence-based
decision-making.
Clear and purposeful leadership promotes
trust, unity and a shared understanding
of a city’s trajectory. Leadership is a key
ingredient in encouraging individuals
and communities to take action during
challenging times. A committed city
government that takes decisions on the basis
of sound evidence enables a city to thrive
from day to day, and to respond to shocks
and stresses.
Cross-sector collaboration that challenges
‘siloed’ approaches in government is critical
to effective decision-making. Multi-
stakeholder alignment and consultations
with communities, including the private
sector, are measures that support relevant
and effective decision-making. Evidence
gathered in cities suggests that effective
city governments are given the necessary
power to make decisions at local level.
The presence of a strong local government
leader is also an asset in this context.
Integrated, multi-stakeholder decision-
making is also supported by coordinated
practices and procedures, such as
emergency management structures and
response plans.
Inclusive governments recognise the
importance of grassroots knowledge to
help them understand local challenges, and
they value the research and innovation that
universities and businesses can contribute
to solve city problems. By forging cross-
sector relationships, resilient cities are better
able to coordinate people and access private
resources and support during times of need.
Integration and reflectiveness are essential
to emergency coordination and capacity-
building, enabling appropriate and timely
government responses.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Government decision-making;
Co-ordination with other government
bodies; multi-stakeholder collaboration;
hazard monitoring and risk assessment;
Government emergency management.
11. Empowered stakeholders
This is underpinned by education for
all, and relies on access to up-to-date
information and knowledge to enable
people and organisations to take
appropriate action.
Individuals and communities that know
what to do during unexpected events are
invaluable assets to a city. The provision
of early warnings and access to education,
information and knowledge empowers
citizens and gives them the tools to take
appropriate decisions in the face of shocks
and stresses. As a consequence, urban
stakeholders are better positioned to act,
learn, and adapt.
The generation of information and
knowledge depends on a city’s investment
in research, data collection and risk
monitoring. By leveraging relevant
information for evidence-based decision-
making, resilient cities can take better
decisions and act appropriately in changing
circumstances. Multiple and well-used
channels of communication help to make
this process effective. In addition, resilient
cities ensure that information shared with
their citizens can be understood. Other
forms of knowledge exchange between
communities and cities – such as city
networks or ‘twin city’ schemes – are also
beneficial when it comes to disseminating
best practice.
Inclusive provision of education and
information enables citizens to protect
themselves in emergency situations. For
example, in many cities that are vulnerable
to seismic activity, television and radio
stations automatically switch to deliver
official earthquake information following
an event, which alerts the public to risks
and precautionary measures. Sharing
knowledge, experience and best practices
between cities enables reflectiveness
through broader exchange of information,
feedback loops, learning and adaptation.
Specific indicators that underpin this goal
include: Education for all; Community
awareness and preparedness; Mechanisms
for communities to engage with
government.
12. Integrated development
planning
This is indicated by the presence of
a vision, an integrated development
strategy, and plans that are regularly
reviewed and updated by cross-
departmental groups.
Development plans and land use regulations
are instruments that cities use to coordinate
and control urban development and guide
future investments. The creation and
implementation of plans and regulations
ensures that individual projects and
programmes are aligned and sufficiently
address uncertainty. Integrated plans
create a formalised framework to deal with
multidisciplinary issues, such as climate
change, disaster risk reduction or emergency
response.
A critical aspect of delivering a
comprehensive development and planning
framework is the presence of a city vision.
The development of a shared and integrated
city vision requires understanding of and
alignment between the motivations of
different stakeholders involved in designing
and implementing projects in the city.
This, in turn, requires ongoing processes
of communication and coordination at
all stages of planning. A vision should be
underpinned by appropriate evidence and
acceptance of uncertainty, and delivered
via policy and regulations. Land use plans
should be permanently enforced and
regularly updated. Preparation of plans
relies on collecting up-to-date and relevant
data, as well as the ongoing monitoring of
urban trends.
The implementation of integrated strategies
and plans ensures that different projects
and programmes across a city are aligned,
mutually-supportive, reflective of past
experience and resourceful in the face
of future uncertainty. These processes
should be truly inclusive, incorporating
consultations with residents and others who
will experience their effects.
Specific indicators that underpin this
goal include: City monitoring and data
management; Planning process; Land use
and zoning; Planning approval process.
16. 14 City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
“Surat started off as a place with household workplaces specialising
in high skill products –hand woven textiles, diamond cutting/
polishing and embroidery. Due to scarcity of labour, competition
in the country and demand for craftsmanship, employers had to
be nice to their immigrant employees – they needed to retain their
employees. They tried to understand their issues and treated them
like family…This sentiment has continued.”
Elected standing commitee member
19. 17City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Enhancing resilience through community-led actions,
New Orleans
The city of New Orleans has endured two
significant disasters recently: Hurricane
Katrina in 2005 and the BP oil spill in
2010. Located close to both the Gulf of
Mexico and Lake Pontchartrain, many local
residents rely on these water resources for
their livelihoods in the fishing and food
processing industries. One such community
is the city’s Vietnamese community in
the neighbourhood of Versailles. Their
proximity to open water has made the
community particularly vulnerable to the
recent disasters. Their response illustrates
the importance of social aspects of
resilience, particularly the fundamental role
of strong, unified communities.
Resumption of Catholic masses at the Mary
Queen of Vietnam church – led by the
priest who had displayed such leadership –
helped to promote a sense of normality, and
reminded residents of their shared religion,
their common language (Vietnamese)
and their collective identity and cultural
heritage. Residents were encouraged to
rebuild their homes by bartering their
skills with one another. For example: local
electricians helped to restore power to the
homes of roofers; in exchange, the roofers
helped to replace damaged tiles and roofs
on the electricians’ homes.
In 2006, the Mary Queen of Vietnam
Community Development Corporation
(MQVN CDC) was founded to help
local residents rebuild not only their
homes but also their lives after Katrina.
This organisation still exists, promoting
redundancy by providing social services
and care in the continued absence of health
facilities in the neighbourhood, and also
training residents in alternative livelihoods.
The Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill in
2010 polluted many of the fishing waters
that local fisherfolk relied on for their
livelihoods. The MQVN CDC now re-
trains fisherfolk in market gardening and
aquaponics, providing them with alternative
livelihood options.
“A lot of residents
feel a strong sense
of belonging
here. They had a
chance to evacuate
and start a life
somewhere else,
but most of them
chose to come back
here because it
reminded them of a
little Vietnam. This
really feels like a
community – you
can’t keep a secret
here, people are so
close.”
Deputy Director of Mary
Queen of Vietnam Community
Development Corporation
Katrina displaced almost the entire
population of Versailles; destroyed and
damaged homes and businesses, including
fishing boats; forced the permanent closure
of the nearest hospital and schools; and left
the community temporarily without power
or water. Galvanised by the leadership of the
local Catholic priest, himself supported by
a network of community leaders, evacuated
residents began to return to Versailles a
few weeks after Katrina. Learning that
the government was unable to provide the
necessary resources for the recovery as
quickly as they were needed, the community
rebuilt both its physical and social structures
on its own.
Retail activities in Versailles
Original homes of the first Vietnamese
migrants in New Orleans (damaged by
Hurricane Katrina)
Communities unite
behind strong
neighbourhood
identities in New
Orleans to overcome
disaster.
22. 20 City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
Valuing spatial planning and leadership,
Cape Town
Many of the stresses currently faced by
Cape Town are the legacy of the segregation
and discriminatory practices of South
Africa’s apartheid system. Apartheid
planning processes promoted spatial
segregation and resulted in disconnected
neighbourhoods and a limited transport
system in the city. These challenges are
starting to be addressed through improved
leadership and a new approach to spatial
planning.
city budget is not sufficient to do so. The
city government also struggles to maintain
security in these areas. The conditions
of isolation and lack of basic needs and
security contribute to the residents’ lack
of empowerment and a feeling of being
inadequately engaged in decision-making
processes.
As part of an effort to address these
challenges, the City of Cape Town has
drafted a Spatial Development Framework
(2012) which promotes a new integrated
approach to planning and development
of neighbourhoods and services. A new
integrated transport system – headlined
by the MyCiTi bus system – is also in
development by the government body,
Transport for Cape Town.
Within informal settlements, the City and
NGO partners are undertaking inclusive
re-blocking exercises to better engage
residents and increase community cohesion.
This involves rebuilding areas within
the settlements to allow greater space
for socialising and also to allow access
for service provision, particularly for
emergency services to respond to incidents
such as domestic fires.
“The city wasn’t
designed by
economic forces;
instead it was
designed by social
engineering.
Maybe we need
social engineering
to change it
again?”
Representative of the Cape
Town Partnership
Capetonians live in residential areas which
are still often categorised by the race or
economic status of their inhabitants. New
housing developments typically only
occur on the periphery of the city, while
redevelopment of brownfield sites in the
city is uncommon. Integrated mixed-use
developments are extremely rare. Therefore,
to travel between home and work, residents
rely heavily on a limited transport network,
with few choices of route or safe and
affordable modes. Some areas of the city
still lack any public transport.
Particular areas of the city lack basic
services, specifically the informal
settlements in which 14% of Capetonians
live. Many of these settlements exist in the
flood-prone Cape Flats area. The City of
Cape Town would like to relocate residents
in these settlements to safer locations where
they could provide them with basic services
such as water and electricity. However, the
A typical informal house in Sweet Homes,
Khayelitsha
MyCiTi bus and feeder station, Gardens
Integrated development is
helping tackle the legacy
of apartheid, building more
cohesive communities and
a more connected city in
Cape Town.
23. 21City Resilience Framework - The Rockefeller Foundation | Arup
What next?
A year ago, we set out to create a City
Resilience Index. Our objective was not to
rank and compare cities. Rather, we set out
to better understand what it is that makes
a city resilient. The purpose of the City
Resilience Index is to provide cities with
a robust, holistic and accessible basis for
assessment so that they are better placed to
make investment decisions and engage in
urban planning practices that ensure people
living in cities – particularly the poor and
vulnerable – survive and thrive no matter
what shocks and stresses they encounter.
The City Resilience Framework is the first
step. It provides the foundation for the
Index, defining its structure; the categories,
the goals and indicators. We have also
developed a preliminary list of variables
and metrics. As far as possible, these are
based on data that is already available,
and aligned with variables used today by
cities to measure other aspects of urban
performance. They will be reviewed and
refined over the coming months based on
consultation with experts in specific areas
and the cities we have engaged with to date;
also the 100 Resilient Cities and the Asian
Cities Climate Change Resilience Network.
By the end of 2015, we hope to have a final
version of the City Resilience Index that
will have been piloted in several cities.
We are also exploring opportunities to
develop tools, based on the data we have
collected, that provide a more specific lens
for organisations interested in understanding
resilience to particular types of hazard, in
different sectors or at specific scales. Our
hope is that the City Resilience Framework
and City Resilience Index will also facilitate
collaboration and alignment of global
efforts to create safer and more resilient
cities that will ensure the wellbeing of the
majority of the world’s population as the
21st century unfolds.
24. For more information
Arup
13 Fitzroy Street
London W1T 4BQ
United Kingdom
Jo da Silva
E-mail: Jo.da-Silva@arup.com
Tel: +44 20 7755 3037
Braulio Eduardo Morera
E-mail: Braulio.Morera@arup.com
Tel: +44 20 7755 4820